Dancetime: Baroque Social Dance, Volume 4

Carol Teten

Plot Summary

The Elegance of Baroque Social Dance is the fourth in the series of How To Dance Through Time instructional videos. It features the most influential social dances of the French Baroque Court. of the 18th century. The renown Minuet is demonstrated with step and floor pattern detail. The complicated handholds of the Allemande are carefully delineated. The intricate patterns of the Contredance are brought to life by eight dancers. This film features professional dancers who demonstrate the dances with detailed step precision and careful instructions. As with all videos in the How to Dance Through Time series, the dances are introduced with a concise, historical overview and illustrated with authentic photographs and drawings. The steps were carefully researched from period manuscripts and are recreations of historical dances. Close up and slow motion views make learning the moves simple and fun. Dance historian and choreographer Carol Téten is an engaging presence in the series, providing historical context and calling out dance instructions as professional dancers demonstrate. Following each instructional section, dancers from the Dance Through Time company perform with authentic music and fashions of the era.